07/23/2026
There are some seasons that hold joy and heartbreak in the very same hands.
Just miles from us, families are digging through mud, grieving homes, memories, and lives forever changed by these floods. It’s hard to put into words how heavy that feels. Our hearts have been with our neighbors every single day.
At the same time, the elderberries don’t wait. The gardens keep growing. Little feet still splash in the pool. Tiny hands still reach for berry clusters that stain fingers purple, and laughter still echoes across the hills.
Life has a way of reminding us that grief and gratitude can exist together. Nature keeps moving forward, even when our hearts are heavy. We gather what the land offers today while praying tomorrow is gentler than yesterday.
Wednesday, my mom couldn’t get to work because Buckhannon was basically completely underwater due to the flooding from the storm. So instead, our day was full of sunshine, pool water, sticky fingers, and buckets overflowing with elderberries. Soon they’ll become syrup, jelly, and medicine in our pantry, but today they became memories.
If there’s a local family or relief effort you’d like others to know about, please feel free to share it in the comments. I’ll be trying to share what I can find in the comments and across my other pages.
Hold your people close. Pick the berries. Let the kids swim. Check on your neighbors.
We’re all in this together.
